Government Study Indicates 59 Lakh Nepalis Below Poverty Line
Based on data provided by Dr. Hemraj Regmi, the Deputy Director, a recent government study conducted on the basis of the 2078 census reveals that approximately 59.11 lakh individuals in Nepal are living below the poverty line. This survey marks the fourth Nepal Living Standards Survey, with the previous one conducted 12 years ago during the fiscal year 2066/67 indicating that 25.16% of the population lived below the poverty line. Dr. Regmi notes that in the previous survey, an annual consumption of 19,261 rupees was considered the benchmark. However, comparing consumption changes over the 12-year period, the poverty line has been recalibrated to 72,908 rupees annually, implying that individuals unable to meet this expenditure annually are classified as living below the poverty line. This shift is attributed to the increase in average annual consumption expenditure per capita. According to the office, in 2066/67, the average per capita consumption expenditure in Nepal stood at 75,902 rupees. Over the 12-year period, based on the Consumer Price Index, there has been a 66% increase in annual per capita consumption expenditure, reaching 1,26,172 rupees annually. Furthermore, the survey found that 35,029 rupees are allocated for food and 37,879 rupees for non-food items, surpassing the annual poverty line of 72,908 rupees. Data collection for the survey spanned from Asar 2079 to Jestha 2080. A sample of 9,600 households was selected to ensure nationwide representation, including representation at provincial and local levels, as per Dr. Regmi. The survey gathered information on various aspects including household consumption, income, access to services, use of residential facilities, education, health, employment, savings and credit, migration, and land ownership and use, among others.